November 9, 2024
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Business and Networking Economic

Africa’s top 10 Trade and Investment agencies

Africa’s leading trade and investment promotion agencies are transforming the continent through strategic foreign investments, job creation, and export promotion. These agencies play pivotal roles in accelerating growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Below is the 2024 ranking by FDI inflows and jobs created, reflecting each institution’s impact across key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.

  1. Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank)
  • FDI Inflows: $10 billion disbursed for projects across Africa
  • Jobs Created: 40,000

Afreximbank leads Africa’s trade integration, leveraging its Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable cross-border transactions. The bank’s allocation of $10 billion in trade finance under the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund is reshaping industrial parks and expanding regional infrastructure. Afreximbank also extended its reach beyond Africa, launching operations in the Caribbean to build new trade partnerships. This ambitious expansion has made it a key player in job creation and industrial financing across the continent​

  1. EDB (Egyptian Export Development Authority)
  • FDI Inflows: $5.8 billion
  • Jobs Created: 30,000

The EDB is transforming Egypt’s economy by focusing on textiles, chemicals, and construction exports. New trade routes established with Europe and Asia in 2024 have spurred industrial growth, creating thousands of jobs across the manufacturing sector and boosting Egypt’s position in global markets​

  1. SAFTO (South African Foreign Trade Organization)
  • FDI Inflows: $4.5 billion
  • Jobs Created: 35,000

SAFTO promotes value-added manufacturing exports beyond traditional commodities. Trade agreements under AfCFTA have opened up new market opportunities, supporting South Africa’s role as a major industrial hub and fostering job creation through expanded trade partnerships​

  1. AIPEX (Angolan Agency for Private Investment and Export Promotion)
  • FDI Inflows: $3 billion
  • Jobs Created: 25,000

AIPEX’s rise reflects Angola’s shift from oil dependency toward agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. The agency facilitated the creation of 5,000 new businesses and expanded infrastructure projects, attracting investors and aligning with AfCFTA’s trade goals​

  1. GIPC (Ghana Investment Promotion Centre)
  • FDI Inflows: $4 billion
  • Jobs Created: 20,000

GIPC’s investments in renewable energy, technology, and agribusiness have bolstered Ghana’s economy. In 2024, strategic partnerships with Asian and European investors drove job creation and enhanced Ghana’s reputation as a regional trade hub​

  1. NEPC (Nigerian Export Promotion Council)
  • FDI Inflows: $2.8 billion
  • Jobs Created: 20,000

NEPC’s non-oil diversification strategy emphasizes textiles, cocoa, and creative industries. In 2024, the council launched export expansion programs and trade missions to Latin America, creating opportunities for Nigerian businesses and driving job growth​

  1. RDB (Rwanda Development Board)
  • FDI Inflows: $2 billion
  • Jobs Created: 10,000

Rwanda’s focus on green energy and technology continues to attract sustainable investments. Through seamless business operations and regional trade integration, RDB has fostered entrepreneurship and supported local businesses in high-growth sectors​

  1. KEPROBA (Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency)
  • FDI Inflows: $1.5 billion
  • Jobs Created: 15,000

KEPROBA’s efforts in horticulture, textiles, and IT services have opened new export markets and driven job creation. In 2024, SME support programs enabled Kenyan businesses to expand into Europe and the Middle East​

  1. ZimTrade (Zimbabwe)
  • FDI Inflows: $1.2 billion
  • Jobs Created: 8,000

ZimTrade’s export portfolio includes artisan crafts and agricultural products, with a focus on European and Asian markets. Capacity-building programs for local businesses have spurred job creation and market diversification​

  1. TANTRADE (Tanzania Trade Development Authority)
  • FDI Inflows: $1.4 billion
  • Jobs Created: 10,000

TANTRADE promotes Tanzania’s exports in agriculture and mining, with trade expos and new processing facilities attracting investments. Its alignment with AfCFTA has created jobs and strengthened Tanzania’s presence in East African trade networks​

These trade and investment agencies are reshaping Africa’s economic landscape by fostering regional cooperation, attracting foreign direct investments, and driving employment growth. The success of Afreximbank at the top of this list highlights the importance of financial innovation and regional integration in building a resilient future.

With AfCFTA providing a strong framework, Africa is now better positioned to reduce trade barriers, enhance infrastructure, and diversify exports, aligning with global market trends. These agencies have not only expanded business opportunities but also strengthened local industries, empowered SMEs, and created tens of thousands of jobs. Africa’s ability to maintain this momentum depends on continued collaboration between governments, private sector partners, and multilateral institutions.

Looking ahead, Africa is on track to become a global economic force, leveraging its human capital, resource wealth, and strategic trade alliances to unlock new levels of prosperity and sustainable development across the continent​.

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